Coupling means for demountable-rim sections.



F. B. CUMPSTON. v COUPLING MEANS FOR DEMOUNTABLE RIM SEC'HONS;

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29,1916- 1,241,345,

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

the clencher rim mounted thereon.

FREDERICK B. CUMPSTON, 0F BLOOD/LING GROVE,

TEXAS.

COUPLING MEANS FOR DEMOUNTABLE-RIM SECTIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 191%.

Application filed November 29, 1916. Serial No. 134,053.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK B. CUM]?- STON,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Blooming Grove, in thecounty of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Coupling Means for Demountable- Rim Sections, ofwhich. the following is a specification.

One of the principal objects of my present invention is to provide animproved coupling means for circumferentially. divided demountable rimsections, in the nature of a lockingplate slidably carried on the underside of one of the sections, and having hooks adapted, when the sectionsare put together, to overhang a portion of the opposite section, and, tobe shifted for engagement with keeper lugs carried on the under side ofthe opposite section.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of theclass described, which will be extremely simple, durable, efficient inoperation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction,combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully describedand claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which likecharacters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalfigures, of which Figure 1 represents a view in section taken radiallythrough a rim constructed according to my invention; I

Fig. 2 represents a partial plan view showing the locking plate inposition for cou pling the rim sections together, the view being takenlooking toward the under side of the rim; 1

Fig. 3 represen s a view in perspective. showing the rim sectionsseparated and illustrating the arrangement of the lugs carried by therim sections;

Fig. 4 represents the locking plate;

Fig. 5 represents an enlarged sectional view, taken transversely on theplane indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the draw-- ing, a wheel felly isindicated at 5, and i ilas rim is divided circumferentially into apermanent section 6 which may be suitably sea view .in perspective ofcured to the felly 5, and a removable sect on 7 whlch may be shiftedlaterally ofl of the felly and away from the section 6, in

a manner well known, when it is desired to remove the tire indicated at8, or the inner tube thereof.

Secured on the under or inner face of the rim 7 along a line spaced fromthe inner edge 9 thereof, is a plurality of spaced lugs 10. These lugsare riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the section 7, as indicatedin Fig. 5. The lugs 10 serve as guide means for a locking plate,indicated generally at 11, which plate is adapted to bridge the jointbetween the rim sections when the latter are placed together, and isadapted to be shifted longitudinally for engaging a plurality of spacedkeeper lugs 12. welded or otherwise suitably secured on the under faceof the rim section 6, with hook portions on said plate 11. a

The plate 11 is provided adjacent one 13 formed V edge with a series ofalined longitudinally extending slots 14. corresponding in number to thelugs 10 and through which slots said lugs extend. The lugs are providedwith beveled lateral edges 15, and the lateral edges of the slots 14:are likewise beveled so that the plate will thus be retained indisengagement from the rim section 7. The slots 14 are substantiallytwice the length of the lugs 10, whereby to allow a limited longitudinalmovement of the plate 11 relatively to the rim section 7. I

The hook portions 13 of the plate are defined by a series of L-shapedslots 16 p ro-. vided in that portion of the plate which The lateraloverhangs the rim section 6. reaches of the slots16extend clear to theedge of the plate, so that the keeper lugs 12 may be introduced into theslots 16 when the section 7 is being placed in position upon the fell itbeing understood that the laterally extending portionsof the slots 16are spaced apart distances corresponding to the distances between thelugs 12. The keeper lugs 12 are beveled on all four edges, andall of theedges of the slots 16 are also beveled, so that the plate 11 will beheld down against the under surface of the permanent rim section 6 atall times that-the lugs 12 are engaged within the slots 16.

It will be understood that. when the rim sections are to be connectedtogether, the plate 11 will be shifted to assume the dotted lineposition indicated in Fig. 2, and the Itiihrsection'? will be sopositioned with respect. to' the section 6 that the bevel edged tongue17, provided on the rim section 7,

2e pered as shown, the recess 18 into which it extends beinglikewisetapered.

will be opposite the bevel edged recess 18 provided in a lug orthickened portion19 of the rim'section 6. The section 7 will then bemoved against the section 6, so that the tongue 17 will enter the recess18, and at the same time the lugs 12 will. enterinto the lateralportions of the slots 16. lVhen the sections are closed, the plate 11will be shifted into the full line position indicated in ig. 2, therebyengaging the lug 12 in the longitudinally extending portions of slots16,

and hence engaging the hook portions 13 of the plate over the lugs insuch manner as to prevent lateral displacement of the sections 6 and 7relatively to each other.

The tongue 17 extends laterally beyond the inner edge 9 of the section7, and is ta- This tongue,

in engaging with the lug or thickened portion 19, prevents creepingmovement of the rim sections relatively to each other, and hence willprevent any possibility of disengaging the hooks 13 and'lugs 12 througha creeping movement of the rim sections.

"A plurality of the locking devices 'is arranged at spaced intervalsaround the perimiter of the rim, and in order to accommodate the lockingdevices, the telly 5 is pr0- .Vided on its periphery with recesses 20 ofsuitable length to allow of the accommodw tion of the locking devicesand to allow the plates 11 to be shifted into and out of lockmgposition. The recesses 20 are of sufficient depth to convenientlyaccommodate the locking devices, and in order to close these recesses,the telly is provided with removable metallic lugs or blocks 21 removably thereof, as

naaneae may be inserted in the recesses 20, for shifting the plates 11.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, Imay desire to make such changes in the construction, combination, andarrangement of parts do not depart from the spirit of the invention andthe scope of the appended claims. 7

1. The combination with a circumferentially divided rim, of a pluralityof bevel edged guide lugs carried on the under side of one of the rimsections, a securing de-- vice for the rim sections comprising a platehaving bevel edged. guide slots engaging the said guide lugs, said slotsbeing of a length greater than the length of the guide lugs, said plateadapted when the sections are placed together to overlie the oppositerim section on th'e under side thereof, a plurality of bevel edgedkeeper lugs carried by said opposite rim section on its under side, saidplate being provided'with bevel edged angular slotsadapted to be engagedover the keeper lugs whereby to couple the rim sections together, andenacting means between the rim sections for guiding them together andfor preventing creeping movement of the sections relatively to eachother.

2. The combination with a circumferentially divided rim, of a securingdevice for the rim sections comprising a plate adapted to bridge thejpint between the rim sections when the latter are placed together,cooperating guide means between the plate and one of the rim sectionsfor normally supporting the plate on said section and allowinglongitudinal shifting movement of the plate, a plurality of keeper lugscarried by the opposite rim section, a plurality of hook portions formedon the plate and adapted when the latter is moved in one d1- rcction toengage over the keeper lugs for preventing separation of the rimsections, and coiiperating guide means between the rim sections forproperly guiding them together and for preventing creeping movement ofone rim section relatively to the other.

FREDERICK B. CUMPSTON.

